Cornell & Diehl Pegasus

I bought a small 2 ounce sample as I work my way through Runowski C&D blends and I also wished to explore something non-flavored that was not a VaPer or Latakia based. If C&D did not already have a former blend named "Americana" that would have been an appropriate name for Pegasus. For those times when I want something mellow (i.e.; not wishing to wrestle with Old Joe K.) I load a cob of this up. It is pleasantly full flavored - a flavor of TOBACCO. A perfect light and forget smoke. The burleys are well behaved, the Virginias noticeable without being too sweet, and the black cavendish supports both by filling the smoke and keeping the rest in line. I have not even jarred up this small amount but keep it in a rollup pouch with a humi-coin for those times when I am smoking away from home among non-smoking company. My wife says it smells good. She rarely complains but then she rarely comments either way. With Pegasus the response was unsolicited. I just might re-purchase and thereby (by my rating system) kick this to a 4 star blend.

Age really made a difference here. When I opened a tin that was 18 months old, I ended up enjoying a very robust, smooth, and nutty mix of tobaccos. It wasn't spectacular, but it was very nice and I'm looking forward to finishing up the other tins I've got buried in my cellar. One caveat: I don't know why, but this time around Pegasus struck me as being almost a mild aromatic. There was a lot of sweetness and the roomnote reminded me a little bit of vanilla. Even more surprising, it left a pronounced "ghost" in the briar I smoked it in. This was easily eliminated with a few bowls of Prince Albert and Morley's Best, but it was nonetheless a surprise. I wonder if this batch didn't end up with a little more Black Cavendish than the first one had.

Original review (09/15/2007): I was looking forward to this for two reasons. First, I'm a big fan of C&D burley blends. Second, based on the reviews on this site, I figured it would be something I'd really enjoy. But I found this just didn't have enough flavor for me -- it struck me as utterly nondescript and dull, and it also bit me. The quality of the tobaccos seems to be excellent, however, and obviously a lot of people like it, so I might just be the odd man out on this one. I would highly recommend this blend if you like Haunted Bookshop (another blend I find to be too bland), as this strikes me as a sweetened version of it.

To my palate, this is a near-perfect no-nonsense burley blend that can hold your interest as an everyday smoke. The nutty/oatmeal burley taste predominates, and is the star player by a mile; I have to really go looking to find any Virginia flavor. The unsweetened black Cavendish helps this burn easier, adds some smoke volume, and probably smoothes out the taste a bit. Requires slightly less than an average number of relights, and easily burns all the way down.

I really think of this blend as a burley blend with a little Virginia and unsweetened black Cavendish to help with the mechanical aspects and round out the flavor. But don't expect scads of Virginia sweetness from this blend, because it just isn't there.

I like this blend a lot, and if it were my only blend, I'd still be a happy smoker. However, I prefer C&D's fairly similar Three Friars by a hair, as the Perique in Three Friars adds some additional interest.

Recommended for beginners or connoisseurs, though I think this would be a perfect introduction to burley if you're coming over from another family of tobacco.

Pegasus is a natural tasting tobacco that I think does have a little sugar top note . I know that sounds like an oxymoron . A mostly Burley blend of 3 varieties and a little bit of bright and red Virginias and unflavored cavendish to sweeten it up a little . It is nutty and earthy and a little sour . A little sweet and has some harsh notes when you get past the halfway point . A darker burley seems to give some nice Kentucky like notes at times that are quite nice . Some hay and grass From Virginias and there is a little bit of spice in this blend . All in all a good smoke I enjoy with great taste but not very smooth on the throat sometimes. 3 stars for me

This one I can’t lie, I only had one bowl of this and found it to be a nice Burley blend but cannot extrapolate too much on this one. A good smoke but one I should revisit. I will call this a place holder for now.

For me this tobacco are always a good choice, because it's honest. It have a good body and can be smoked any time during the day. your smell are smooth and when you buy (I bought 2oz) this tobacco the moisture are right in the perfect point to smoking. Ideal for begginers and for that smokers more experimented.

The aroma of this blend takes me back to my childhood. My grandfather smoked Grainger, my dad smoked Edgeworth Ready Rubbed. I had an uncle that smoked Bond Street. This blend falls right in line with those venerable old classic American O.T.C. tobaccos. The only difference is I think this stuff is a little smoother and it's probably the addition of the black cavendish. When I started smoking a pipe in my teens, I smoked what my dad smoked...I think a lot of us older pipe smokers started that way, so I'm no stranger to burly based tobaccos. This blend is not one of my all day smokes but it is a nice change of pace when I'm feeling a little nostalgic, and I can say with all honesty, that this is a damn good one. It burns clean and consistent from start to finish and never really overpowers the smoker. While it can be a little harsh at times if you are not careful, it has a quality that only an old fashion pipe tobacco can give...it is satisfying like a good cigar and goes well with a nice strong cup of evening coffee. I will definitely keep this on hand right next to my Match Edgeworth Ready Rubbed.

I bought this tobacco in bulk two years ago expecting a sweet, nutty burley blend that would be an all day smoke. What I got was an acrid, cigaretty tasting smoke that I immediately consigned to the back of my cellar, thinking that I would never return. Two years went by and I eventually tried it again... Lo and behold, I found a sweet nutty burley blend, an all day smoke. Lesson learned. If you buy this blend in bulk, jar and age. You will be rewarded with a smooth, semi-sweet nutty blend, with a nice N punch.

I've been a big fan of C&D's Old Joe Krantz. Its the perfect driving on a long trip tobacco. Pease's Cumberland is good too. This is just personal. Dan Tobacco's Mellow Mallard (straight virginia) is another easy to smoke blend but with enough nic hit ( in mallard its barely enough, but its there). C&D's Crooner is fine if you like deer tongue. But Pegasus might be my new favorite. Ive been partial to un cased black cavendish in other blends but its very pronounced here. The virginia's are in the background and taste like the sort C&D use a lot. Its got a medium nic nit. Not nearly what OJK is, but this is a very very very easy to smoke and fine tasting blend. Its one of those tobacco blends you simply do not get tired of. I like Pease's Montgomery for example. But you just cant smoke it all the time. Im not sure how that works, the psychology of taste, but some blends one can love.....just not all the time. This is an all time tobacco but not bland. Macbaren's My Mixture is a good all the time blend...but its bland. And there is little nic hit. Its delicious, and i keep a tin around but i dont smoke it as often as i might think. The burley here is nutty...like OJK...and the cavendish is mildly earthy, nut like, but more walnut than cashew as it were. The whole thing is just wonderful. A great everyday blend of great quality and it also holds its taste start to finish. In fact thats one of the best qualities of Pegasus. It is totally consistent.